MPCA Investigates 12,000-Gallon Spill Near Winona

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was investigating Tuesday after a Canadian Pacific Railway train dribbled about 12,000 gallons of crude oil along 68 miles of track between Winona and Red Wing in southeastern Minnesota.

MPCA spokeswoman Cathy Rofshus said no major cleanup was planned because the oil splattered between the rails onto the track bed as the train was moving Monday.

"It's like it spray-painted oil," she said, adding that emergency responders had not found any pools of oil or other concentrations that could be cleaned up. She said the area would be monitored for any runoff.

According to a duty officer's report from the state Department of Public Safety, the release started in Red Wing and continued through Winona, where somebody reported the leak around 9 a.m. The train crew stopped just past Winona and fixed the leak, which the report blamed on a missing valve or cap.

The spill involved less than half the contents of a typical tanker car, which holds about 26,000 gallons, the Winona Daily News reported.

Canadian Pacific spokesman Ed Greenberg told the newspaper the railroad was investigating the cause and cooperating with the MPCA's investigation, and would cooperate fully with any cleanup efforts if they're required.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.